Recycle wastewater, take shorter shower - environment group

MANILA, Philippines - As the national government ordered its agencies to reduce their water consumption, an environment group yesterday urged the public to do their share in water conservation to avert the looming water crisis due to El Niño.

The EcoWaste Coalition said the public must cut on water use and waste, noting the value of recycling wastewater, taking shorter baths minus the shower, and immediately repairing leaking faucets, pipes, or toilets to help in the water conservation drive.

EcoWaste also released its “Water Tipid Tips” in time for the water shortage and in response to the declining level of water in Angat Dam, which provides 97 percent of Metro Manila’s raw water supply, due to the El Niño phenomenon.

“Conserving water is not only a knee-jerk response to the dry spell, but an essential one to conserve energy and reduce greenhouse gases from the use of fossil fuels used to pump out and deliver water into our homes and neighborhoods,” said Manny Calonzo, president of EcoWaste.

As a first step, EcoWaste said the public should check and immediately repair all leaking faucets, pipes, tanks and toilets to stop wasting water.

The group likewise emphasized the significance of recycling wastewater, or what is also referred to as “graywater” from bathing, laundering, cooking and washing dishes, which can be used to water the plants, wash cars, rags, floors and tiles; to clean the garage and to flush the toilet.

EcoWaste also promotes taking shorter showers, turning off the tap when soaping or shampooing, and using pail and dipper when taking a bath.

Meanwhile, National Water Resources Board (NWRB) officer-in-charge deputy executive director Nathaniel Santos has announced that the new monthly average water allocation the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) will enforce to assist farmlands in Bulacan and Pampanga has been implemented since Jan. 28.

The monthly average allocation schedule recently approved by the NWRB is as follows: Jan. 28-31 and February, 34 cubic meters per second; March, 22 cubic meters per second; and April four cubic meters per second.

Farmlands will not have any water allocation for May and June.

Earlier, Santos said allocation for Metro Manila has been downgraded from 46 cubic meters per second to 42 cubic meters per second starting last Jan. 28 until yesterday.

According to Santos, water level in Angat Dam as of 6 a.m. of Jan. 28 was at 201.92 meters, which is 6.20 meters below its upper rule curve and 1.4 meters below its lower rule curve. Angat Dam’s normal level is 203 meters. – Katherine Adraneda